Sailor, 32, is fatally shot on destroyer, Navy says

A 16-year-old boy was stabbed during a fight with three other teenage boys about 3:45 p.m. yesterday at Southwest Middle School in Otay Mesa, San Diego police said. The victim suffered stab wounds to his face and stomach and was taken to a hospital. –K.D.

A boy or man wearing dark clothing shot a 15-year-old boy in the buttocks about 7:40 p.m. yesterday as the victim was walking south on 54th Street in City Heights near El Cajon Boulevard, authorities said. The victim was taken to a hospital, and the San Diego police Gang Unit is investigating. –M.R.

A commercial truck driver from Mexico was arrested after five tons of marijuana worth an estimated $6.5 million was discovered in his tractor-trailer, a U.S. Customs and Border Inspection spokeswoman said yesterday. The arrest was made Wednesday when a drug dog alerted as the man, 37, of Tijuana was trying to go through the Otay Mesa cargo inspection station. He was registered with the Free Secure Trade program, which allows known low-risk commercial cargoes to be expedited through border inspection. –G.G.

New charges are filed
in embezzlement case

NORTH COUNTY COURTS: Prosecutors filed new charges yesterday against an Escondido woman accused of stealing nearly $10 million from Quality Woodworks, a San Marcos manufacturing company.

Annette Yeomans, 51, pleaded not guilty yesterday to one count of credit card fraud, three counts of tax fraud and 46 counts of forgery, prosecutor Anna Winn said. Winn said she withdrew charges of embezzlement and grand theft to simplify the case for potential jurors.

“It streamlines the evidence for us,” Winn said. “The jury instructions are easier to understand for these charges as opposed to the others.”

Authorities allege Yeomans wrote company checks to herself and her husband and also used them to pay off personal credit card bills. Authorities say she concealed check amounts in the company register, acquired a company debit card and overpriced bids.

They allege that Yeomans spent most of the money on trips, gambling, jewelry and high-end clothing. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 19. –M.R.

Husband of fake heiress
gets prison sentence

EAST COUNTY COURTS: A man accused of scamming his family with his wife, who claimed to be an heiress to the Rothschild banking fortune, was sentenced to prison and probation yesterday for passing a $38,000 forged check.

Michael Laughead, 50, is already serving four years and three months in federal prison in Arizona on unrelated child pornography charges and will serve his forgery sentence concurrently.

During yesterday's sentencing in El Cajon Superior Court, Judge Herbert Exarhos also ordered Laughead to five years' probation and to pay $68,000 in restitution to Bank of America and Wells Fargo. J.P Morgan Chase is also seeking to recover $33,000 over an auto loan.

Prosecutors say Laughead and his wife, Gigi Nizzia, bilked thousands of dollars from Laughead's family to support their extravagant lifestyle. Nizzia, who is also in prison, claimed to be the illegitimate child of a Rothschild and to have a fortune in France. –K.D.